Originally published: September 12, 2013

This is the 22nd in a series profiling women who have risen through the ranks of the automotive industry in Metro Vancouver and beyond.

Karen Davidson’s love of motorcycles started at birth. You could also go as far to say that it was hardwired into her DNA.

When she got behind the handlebars for the first time at age nine, it solidified her love to things that have two wheels.

Being the great-granddaughter of Harley-Davidson’s co-founder William A. Davidson and the daughter of Willie G. Davidson, chief styling officer, might have something to do with it.

That said, it didn’t mean she automatically wanted to be ‘grandfathered’ into the industry. She wanted to pave her own way, so she did. “I had no intention of working for the company,” she tells me while we’re touring the Harley-Davidson museum in Milwaukee.

But when she did decide to follow in the family business – she started working there in 1989 – she says: “There wasn’t a (branded line) division here.”

It was all new and ready for her to take on.

Her collaborative education, industry experience and love of design would lead her to the role that she’s in today as the creative director, general merchandise. “I started out studying art and was very much influenced by it,” she notes.

Understanding art, for Karen, naturally progressed to studying couture at a private college, working under a couturier in New York and studying the engineering of garments.

“I ran product development and worked in New York at a private label company so we designed for many brands,” she says, “On the side I was doing leather. So it all came together.”

Karen adds that she thoroughly enjoys the production aspect of the industry and, “I had a lot of factory experience which I love.

“When you grow up around this culture and you go to races and you’re around people in leather all the time, I had no idea that I would end up designing a lot of leather.”

So how did she get to where she is today?

“I was at a party and one of the people that worked in advertising for (Harley-Davidson) came up to me and said we need to do a branded line. We started apparel in 1912; our first item of clothing was sold that year,” she explains, adding that the brand always had pieces here and there but, “In the ’90s, we blew it up into a branded line and that’s when I came on board.”

So where does she draws inspiration from?

“From anywhere. Absolutely anywhere. Including bike stuff. I was very much influenced by clean, sleek styling and performance combined when I designed FXRG.”

Furthermore: “When you’re close to the motorcycle, I find myself, often times, looking at bikes and I’m looking at riders.”

When asked if there’s a particular piece or collection of clothing that Karen feels especially close to, she mentions that stealthy, performance gear that has both form and function on the road are some pieces she’s most proud of.

Though it would be hard to narrow it down from such a vast array of items.

She also explains that she incorporates the safety element, like 3M reflective piping, body armour and more in a way that still protects but looks sleek and makes women feel good behind the handlebars.

As a rider, she can certainly relate.

She adds, “When all that comes together, it’s really chic, it’s shaped, it does what it’s supposed to do and is comfortable, then it’s really gratifying.”

The design team is not a solo job, she notes.

“I am part of a very large general merchandising group that is now upwards of 90 people.”

That’s with offices in both California

and Milwaukee. How would Karen describe a day in the life of a creative director ? She laughs jovially and replies, “They’re long! She continues, “And it could be a lot of ‘Looks good, not quite right, redo, perfect,’ it’s all of that. Often times it’s getting the feedback that we need from our regions.”

But the long days are par for the course and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

Talking about her role in the company, needless to say, she’s earned her stripes and says, “I feel very, very lucky.”